1/18/17 – CIOGC participates in Sanctuary City meeting with Mayor Emanuel, city officials

CIOGC co-founder, former Chair, and current Ex-Officio Board Member, Dr. Mohammed Kaiseruddin, CIOGC Vice Chair Shahnawaz Khan and approximately 25 Muslim leaders met with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Deputy Mayor, Andrea Zopp, First Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kevin Navarro, as well as representatives from the Office of New Americans on January 12 to discuss safeguarding the Muslim community and immigrant and refugee communities in general in response to the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and impose a ban on Muslim immigrants.

Mayor Emanuel reaffirmed his support for Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance and Sanctuary City Resolution which protect immigrant and refugee rights and promote the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Dr. Kaiseruddin thanked the Mayor for organizing the meeting and taking several actions aimed at protecting the immigrants and Muslims in the city, as well as meeting with the President-elect on behalf of Mayors of major cities. Upon asking the Mayor if it was possible to establish a hate crime hotline similar to the one established by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, the Mayor stated that existing emergency lines (911 and 311) should be sufficient to report a hate crime. Shahnawaz Khan asked the Mayor about relief for Chicago mosques’ water bills to which the he said is aware and working on it.